Engine



E. T. VINCENT May 2, 1939.

ENGINE Filed April 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

T V/ncenT' fdward ATTORN ENGINE Filed April 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENT OR.

Patented May 2, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ENGINE Edward T. Vincent, Detroit,Mich assignor to Continental Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, acorporation of Virginia Application April 12, 1935, Serial No. 15,978

1 Claim.

My invention relates to engines and more particularly to internalcombustion engines of the radial cylinder type operated on the twostroke cycle. More particularly, my present invention is related to theimprovement in many structural details of an engine of the characterdescribed whereby to facilitate and improve the engine performance andto further provide a construction which may be readily and economicallyassembled 10 and serviced.

An object of my present invention is to provide an improved engineassembly embodying aplurality of radially extending cylinders and anassociated connecting rod assembly, so constructed l and arranged as tomaintain friction and power losses at a minimum, whereby to generallyimprove engine operating conditions. Although the construction, ashereinafter described, is more particularly adapted for an engine of thetwo 20 stroke cycle type, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart, that the principles of my invention may be incorporated in enginesother than those of the type herein particularly illustrated.

A further object of my present invention is to provide for a simple andimproved manifold construction for a radial engine employing a pluralityof banks of radially extending cylinders, the present construction beingconstructed and arranged to facilitate assembly and to provide an engineof minimum Weight and economical in construction.

For a more detailed understanding of my invention, reference may be hadto the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form which myinvention may assume, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elcvational view of my improved radial engine showing aportion of the same broken away to illustrate one of the enginecylinders in vertical cross-section, and

40 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view through theengine illustrated in Fig. 1, and illustrating in more detail myimproved connecting rod assembly and crankcase structure which isespecially adapted for a multi-bank radial engine 45 of this type.

I have ,chosen for purposes of illustration to show my invention asembodied in a multi-bank, multi-cylinder radial two stroke cycle engine,though it will be obvious that the invention as 50 broadly claimedherein is adaptable to other types of engines as well. The presentengine in general is provided with a crankcase structure l0, which is soarranged as to support a plurality of cylinder structures ll radiallyabout the engine crank- 55 shaft l2. The particular engine hereinillustrated isa sleeve valve engine and is arranged with suitable intakeand exhaust ports l3 and M respectively in the cylinder'walls, saidports being controlled by the sleeve valve means for controlling theengine cyclical events. More particularly, my 5 invention isincorporated with a sleeve valve engine of the type employing a singlesleeve of the combined movement type.

The crankcase structure In is composed of crankcase sections assembledend to end as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, said sections beingpreferably secured together by means of bolts or other fastening devicesIS. The crankcase sections are each provided with webs or othercrankcase portions l6 each adapted for carrying a bearing ll forsupporting the crankshaft bearing portions l8, substantiallyintermediate each of said banks of cylinders, and preferably eachcrankcase section is arranged to support a pair of radial cylinderbanks, one of the webs It being preferably arranged between theseparallel banks of engine cylinders while the other is arranged to lieintermediate a bank of cylinders of one crankcase section andan'adjacent bank of cylinders carried by the adjacent crankcase section.

The crankcase structure as herein illustrated is preferably constructedto provide inner and outer crankcase wall portions 19 and 20respectively, these crankcase wall portions being spacedto pro-. vide anannular chamber 2| extending circumferentially around the crankcase andcommuni eating with the intake ports I3 of the engine cylinders.Preferably the chambers 2| encircle the cylinders and it will be notedthat the chambers 2! of each crankcase section are in opencommunication, and thus the intake manifoldportion, extendingcircumferentially around said crankcase, provides an intake manifoldwhich is common to all of the radially extending cylinders of all thebanks. 40

It will be noted that the engine cylinders herein illustrated are eachprovided with a single sleeve valve means 22, and in the type of sleevevalve engine herein illustrated, it will be noted that the sleeve valvemeans is moved with a combined oscillating and reciprocating motion bymeans of sleeve driving or actuating cranks 23. The sleeve actuatingcranks 23 are supported in bearings 24 carried by the crankcase andactuated by means of a sleeve driving eccentric 25, this eccentric 60driving the eccentric crank 26 of the sleeve actuating means in any wellknown and suitable manner. In the engine illustrated, it will be notedthat the sleeve is driven at crankshaft speed for engine operation on atwo stroke cycle.

Pistons 21 are operably associated with each of the engine cylinders andare arranged to be operatively connected with the eccentric 28 carriedby'the crankshaft by means of suitable connecting rods 29 andintermediate connections 30 which operatively connect the connectingrods with the crankshaft eccentric 28.

In the present embodiment of my invention I prefer to provideanjeccentric 28 on the engine crankshaft l2, this eccentric havingsuitably secured thereto, the inner bearing ring structure 2!, this ringstructure preferably comprising a pair of rings having outwardlyextending annular flanges or ribs 12 which serve to locate the needlebearings 33 or other suitable anti-friction devices, the eccentrichaving a diameter sufficiently large to accommodate all the connectingrod pads of one-bank of cylinders without interference of one with theother.

A floating ring 34 is arranged to encircle the crankshaft eccentric 2Band have a bearing on the needle bearings or anti-friction devices 33.Thus rotation of the eccentric 28 will impart a rolling action to theneedle bearings 33 and consequently the angular movement of the floatingring 34 is less than the angular movement of the eccentric 28.

This floating ring 34 is provided with a central outwardly extendingannular rib or flange 35 which serves to position or otherwise locatethe needle bearings or other suitable anti-friction devices 36 arrangedin bearing relation with the outer cylindrical surface of the floatingring. The inner end of each of the connecting rods has secured thereto apad 31 having an inner arcuate surface which is arranged concentric withthe cylindrical surface of the eccentric and is arranged to have abearing on the anti-friction devices or needle bearings 36.

In addition to the locating means carried by the floating ring and innerbearing ring 3|, it will be noted that these outer series of needlebearings or anti-friction devices are suitably held in position by theretaining members which will prevent lateral displacement of same. Theretaining members preferably comprise a ring 38 mounted around theannular rib 35 and extending beyond the sides of said annular rib tooverlie the needle bearings 36 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Additionalretaining rings 39 are secured to the side faces of said floating ringby' means of bolts or screws 40 and these side retaining rings arearranged to engage the outer ends of the needle bearing 36, and areprovided further with a lip portion 4| partially overlying the outerends of said needle bearings. It will be furthermore noted that theseside retaining members or rings cooperate with the central -retainingring 38 to definitely retain the antii'riction devices or needlebearingsin position, and also engage the side walls of the connecting rod pad 31to prevent lateral displacement of said connecting rod pad as well asthelateral displacement of the anti-friction devices 36.

It will be noted that the floating ring shown in the present assembly isprovided with antifriction devices engaging the inner and outercylindrical surfaces thereof, and respectively positioned intermediatethe floating ring and crankshaft eccentric, and the floating ring andthe inner arcuate surface of said pad carried by the engine connectingrod.

Rings 44 are employed to retain the connecting rods substantially inposition, these being a pair is inoperative, and while engine is beingstarted.

' It will be noted that the present assembly provides for efficientmotor operation in that there is a minimum of friction due to the factthat there is a minimum of sliding of the connecting rod pad withrespect to the floating ring assembled between said pad and crankshafteccentric 2|. The addition of the needle hearings or other suitableanti-friction devices between the pads and floating ring and thefloating ring and eccentric 28 provide a construction in which frictionis maintained at an absolute minimum, thereby minimizing engine powerlosses.

In addition to the rings 44 for holding down the connecting rod orforcing the pad 31 against the anti-friction bearings between it and thefloating ring 34, further means are made possible because of the factthat the engine herein illustrated is operated as a two stroke cycleengine, and all forces are exerted inwardly toward the engine crankshaftduring engine operation. Due to the curvature of the inner arcuatesurface of the connecting rod pad, it will be noted that tilting of thepiston is prevented and the connecting rod will tilt with respect to thecylinder axis as the eccentric crank moves around, the pad merelyshifting or slightly sliding on the anti-friction devices carried aroundthe outer cylindrical surface of the floating ring. It may be furthernoted that the crankshaft bearings are sufliciently large to permit thelongitudinal assembly of the crankshaft in the crankcase.

Although I have illustrated but one form of my invention and havedescribed in detail but a single application thereof, it will beapparent to those skilled .in the art to which my invention pertainsthat various modifications and changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention or from the scope of theappended claim.

What I claim as my invention is: I

A radial engine crank assembly including a crankshaft having a crankportion, a plurality of connecting rods one for each engine cylinder andeach provided with a slipper type pad at the inner end of the rod, meansoperatively connecting said connecting rods with said crankshaft crankportion including a floating ring encircling said crank portion andprovided with an outer annular rib,-anti-friction devices intermediatesaid crank portion and said floating ring, antifriction devicessupported on the outer surface of said ring and positioned by saidannular rib, said connecting rod pads bearing on said last mentionedanti-friction devices, and retaining rings secured to said floating ringfor restraining said last mentioned anti-friction devices and saidconnecting rod pads from lateral displacement.

EDWARD T. VINCENT.

